After conquering the smartphone market in key emerging markets such as China, Xiaomi’s venturing into the world of tablets with the Xiaomi Mi Pad.

While this year’s offerings by Xiaomi such as the Mi Note have followed an original design, last year’s products such as the Mi Pad bear a striking resemblance to Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) offerings, with Xiaomi clearly targeting the iPad mini with its first tablet. In broad strokes, both tablets share the same pixel density at 324 ppi, the same 4:3 ratio and are offered in a 7.9-inch form factor. That’s where the similarities end, however, as both products are aimed at entirely different buyers.

Design

The iPad mini features an all-metal chassis that feels great in-hand, with Xiaomi deciding to go with plastic on the Mi Pad. There are several Android-based tablets in the price segment Xiaomi is targeting, but by offering much better hardware than tablets priced significantly higher, the Chinese vendor is once again looking to punch above its weight.

The front of the Mi Pad is an unassuming slab, and features the Mi logo etched onto the top left corner. The top section also hosts the front camera sensor. At the bottom, you’ll find three capacitive buttons. The camera sensor at the back is on the top left corner, with the built-in microphone directly underneath. At the bottom, there are stereo speakers sitting below another Mi logo.

The volume rockers as well as the power buttons are on the left side of the tablet, and there’s a micro-USB charging port at the bottom and a 3.5mm audio jack at the top. The volume and power buttons have decent travel, which as it turns out is hard to get right as evidenced by HTC with the first few production runs of the Nexus 9. Xiaomi has however managed to get the tactile feedback right as far as the buttons on the Mi Pad are concerned.

The gentle sloping sides allows you to grip the Mi Pad with ease, with the tablet belying its size when held in-hand. The overall build quality of the tablet is top-notch, but the decision to go with a glossy plastic back wasn’t the best by Xiaomi as it makes the tablet quite slippery at times. The Mi Pad is available in several colorful configurations ranging from white, blue, pink, green and so forth, with the more colorful options distinctly reminding us of the iPhone 5c.

The post Xiaomi Mi Pad Review: Great Hardware Letdown By Software appeared first on VR World.

Developer: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: March 10, 2015
Platform: PlayStation 4 (Reviewed), Xbox One
Genre: Hack n’ Slash, Action
Playtime Length: Middle (~10 hour campaign)
MSRP: $39.99

Disclaimer: A digital PS4 copy of the game was provided by the publisher for the DmC Definitive Edition review.

Ninja Theory’s DmC: Definitive Edition might be the most purely fun PlayStation 4 game I’ve played so far simply because it doesn’t try to be anything other than a good Devil May Cry game.

It’s not pretentious, it doesn’t try to bore you with a winding story arc, nor does it push new mechanics onto the player: it sticks to its original guns by harking back to the authentic and stylish dark mayhem that built the franchise.

The hack-and-slash action is made all the more riotous thanks to the new 60 frames-per-second update, which assures every combo is supercharged with lightning-fast responsiveness.

Every second matters in games like these, and with this upgraded port, players are able to make use of every extra millisecond to wreak total chaos with Dante’s devilish powers.

Although the game is a straightforward remaster in terms of content, it does toss in a nice handful of extras to make the meal all the more enticing.

Vergil’s Downfall, an extra DLC-style extension that chronicles the story of Dante’s brother, bolsters the original campaign mode and lets you tap Vergil’s katana-wielding style of combat.

Other additions include being able to customize how Dante looks during the campaign–particularly useful if you really hate Dante’s new appearance–along with an incredibly fun Turbo Mode that doubles the game’s speed.

If you’re a hardcore combo-stringer that’s looking for a serious challenge, the Definitive Edition has you covered with no less than five new difficulty modes like Gods Must Die or the uber relentless Hell and Hell mode, which makes Dante die from a single hit.

One of the more significant additions is the ultra-survival Bloody Palace mode that’s unlocked when you beat the game. In this timed high-score mode you’re swarmed by endless waves of enemies who are hellbent on annihilating you from existence. The Bloody Palace can be played as either Vergil or Dante, and serves as an excellent way to refine your stylish combo-building skills.

Ninja Theory’s prequel has a pretty strong story that seamlessly delves into the origins of Dante and Vergil, tying in a nice webwork of myth and demonology into the mix as well.

It turns out that Dante is a nephalim–that is part demon and angel–and is the fruits of the union between his father, a demon named Sparda, and his mother, the angelic Eve. Their union broke immortal mandates and both Eve and Sparda were sentenced harshly, but Dante and his brother Vergil were freed.

Being a nephalim has all kinds of advantages, and they manifest quite creatively within the game. As a devil-hunter Dante can cross-over to Limbo, a kind of vibrant and colorful bizarro-universe where nasty demons and corrupt chaos reigns supreme, as well as wield weapons infused with demonic and angelic power.

Combat is elegant, fluid and incredibly stylish. Every combo is enthralling and empowers you to really feel your role as a devil-hunter and develop your ass-kicking prowess along the way.

The real beauty of combat is how dynamism of the attacks ensure you can make your own customized combos, pretty much letting you string together a near-infinite flurry of explosive chaos the way you see fit. Being able to define your own style has always been a hallmark of the series and its in full force in the DmC: Definitive Collection.

Dante has quite a varied arsenal this time around that makes every single battle much more layered and tactically strategic.

Since Dante is a nephalim, he has angelic and demonic weapons that can be switched on the fly by holding LT and RT respectively. Each set has its own unique set of abilities and moves, plus you’ll have to mix and match to take out certain enemies like the harpy, whose shields are weak against angelic attacks.

Angelic weapons include the sweeping scythe Osiris and the dual-wielding Aquila, which can be thrown at a distance or used to slice and dice weaker baddies. The trick is you can only have one angelic item equipped at a time, but you can switch between these on the fly

The other half consists of demon-powered tools like the fiery fists of Eryx (super useful for uppercutting and launching enemies in the air) and the powerful slow Arbiter axe that takes whole chunks out of demons’ life bars.

Dante’s immortally iconic Rebellion sword and Ebony and Ivory handguns are in the mix too, making for an expansive arsenal that can be tapped to deal with a wide variety of situations and bosses.

To me, the best part about combat is how Dante can use his devil or angel chains to yank enemies forward for some punishing destruction, or to sling across levels like an inter-dimensional Spider-Man.

With the chains you can dish out severe havoc on a baddie, fling them away with a crushing blow, and then just pull them right back for more pain. This is essential for chaining together those stylish combos and serves as a major advantage against certain enemies like the hulking Tyrant.

Having so many weapons and abilities might sound like too much to handle, but Ninja Theory remedies this with their amazingly balanced control scheme, making sure you never get overwhelmed.

Gameplay is masterfully paced in such a way you’re not too strong or too weak at any given time. Also the better you perform in-game–high combo strings, finding collectibles, etc–determines your overall grade, netting you extra skill points and the like.

The real beauty behind the game’s pacing formula is that it creates a distinct sense of accomplishment after ever level, dishing out tangible rewards and practical bonuses along the way.

Dante still racks up red orbs to spend at angel statues for helpful items to restore health, boost his Devil Trigger super, or even revive him once he’s been slain–but the progression ins’t just about orbs and items, it also perfectly punctuates boss fights and level completion by granting a brand new weapon.

DmC‘s bosses are exceptionally creative and deserve a nod, too.

From the grotesque foul-mouthed succubus that taints the world’s favorite Coca-Cola-like soft-drink with nasty chemicals to Raptor News’ Bob Bargas that attacks players as a giant digital head, the bosses are amazingly fun and provide a nice throwback to those methodical battles of old.

Something has to be said about the game’s amazingly bizarre world of Limbo, which manifests as a literal playground for demon overlords. There’s a distinct sense of otherworldly chaos pulsing within the heart of this dimensional rift, and it’s not the dark, blood-red universe we’ve seen before.

Instead Limbo is represented as a quite colorful and eerily beautiful sort of acid-trip with a true sense of artistic flair, providing a feast for the eyes at every turn. Vergil’s Downfall taps the mystical eldritch style of the between-world quite well, showcasing a universe that tethers the very fabric of reality within its scintillating colors.

Conclusion: The Devil You Know

With the DmC: Definitive Edition, Ninja Theory has refined the game’s rough edges and creating a shining example of what all remasters should be. Tossing in a bunch of extra DLC and modes is a must, but the real substance lies with the new frame rate enhancements that make every millisecond count even further.

This is the type of game you can extensively replay over and over again even after you beat it simply because of it’s proven fun-inducing formula.

Every moment spent in Dante’s stylish boots is enjoyable, and it’s a game that goes exceedingly well when complimented by other styles in a game library, providing an excellent foray when you’re in the mood for something stylish and chaotic.

Capcom’s DmC re-release is a perfect fit for long-time Devil May Cry fans and new players alike, melding everything that made the franchise so damned addictive with a fresh new storyline and a huge armament of stylish weapons.

The post DmC Definitive Edition Review: Dante’s Inferno appeared first on VR World.

Tormentum Dark Sorrow is a dark point and click adventure created by the three man developing team OhNoo.

A nameless robed figure finds himself hanging from a cage under the zeppelin. Skies are dark and twisted as the flying machine travels through a hellish meteor showered landscape. In the cage near him is a weird horned ratlike creature. The conversation is brief and provides little information except the promise of suffering that is to come.

A sinister citadel in the center of hell is their final destination. The robed figure finds himself in a prison cell, skeletons litter the room and a few moments later a dark knight approaches. Our protagonist has been a very very bad man and the time has come for him to pay for his sins. The problem is he has no idea who he is or what sins he actually committed.

The nightmarish art direction of Tormentum Dark Sorrow is inspired by the works of H.R. Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński. It is a dreamlike world filled with strange shapes and elements that should not mix together in a natural setting. Some might find it bleak or depressing but for those of us that grew on similar game themes it is a real treat.

Tormentum Dark Sorrow is an old school type of point and click adventure with a very retro look and interface that is hard to find nowadays. It follows the now long forgotten formula where art design and atmosphere trump ultra crazy graphics and cheap scares. Gameplay is the classic search the rooms and find the useful item, put the item in the backpack and use it when you find the place it goes in.

Along the way the player is faced with several moral dilemmas that affect the knowledge he uncovers about himself and the world as well as his final fate. These choices can appear cut and dry but are not always what they seem and some might find themselves surprised when they find out that the good ending they “deserved” is not what they got in the end.

One can easily see various influences the team has taken as inspiration. While it is flaunted as being inspired by H.R.Giger storywise it reminds me of one old video game called  I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream based on the book by Harlan Ellison. In that game there are several characters trapped in gruesome nightmare scenarios that can only be solved by making certain ethical choices at key parts, or making the wrong ones and realizing what a horrible person you played all along.

The game also draws a lot of influence from the fantasy setting, probably Planescape most of all. The main character is a nameless robed figure that has no memory of who he is or what his great sins are and everything around him is unnatural and alien. Atmosphere created by the combination of art design, music and the story theme is a fantastic and grotesque abomination. It is a freaky and outlandish journey of self discovery that one can easily recommend to any horror adventure fan.

The post Pay For Your Sins in Tormentum Dark Sorrow appeared first on VR World.

Developer: Turtle Rock Studios
Publisher: 2K Games
Release Date: Feb. 10, 2015
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Online Mulitplayer Shooter
MSRP: $59.99

Note: Our Evolve review was conducted on the Xbox One via a copy purchased independently by the reviewer.

Evolve is a curious game that’s built upon a fantastic idea: a sci-fi take on a Godzilla-esuqe hunter vs. hunted scenario complete with high-stakes strategic gameplay.

But as we’ve seen in the past, fantastic ideas have a way of losing sight of their core goals, becoming something quite different when made a reality. Evolve is a prime example of a great idea that lost a lot of its magic during execution.

The main problem with Evolve is that it makes players gamble with their time. There’s no guarantee you’ll enjoy yourself while playing, and that’s quite true with just about any game, but it’s moreso true here.

This is mainly because the game’s steep learning curve, its emphasis on teamwork, and the wildly varying pace.

As a monster, you’re lone-wolfing it and are pretty much responsible for your own survival. Basically you want to hunt down as many creatures as you can and trigger evolution as quick as possible while avoiding hunters along the way.

Every premature encounter lowers your odds in winning, and while there is some pretty good tutorials, it’s up to you to figure out which skill combos work in which situations.

Panicking almost always leads in death–especially with the Goliath–but gameplay can get pretty entertaining if you’re lashing lightning blasts with the Kraken or slicing and dicing with the Wraith.

Every match is a clean slate for the monsters. You get to pick which skills you want to use and allocate three points before the match. You’ll want to pay attention to the hunters that you’re facing and match your skills accordingly–like if Bucket is an enemy, pick up the Goliath’s stone throw so you can easily take out his pesky sentry guns.

Ultimately as the monster you have to find successful ways to outwit, outmaneuver, and out-hunt your opponents, all while paying close attention to the tracks you leave and chomping on wildlife to fuel your evolution.

As interesting as this sounds, playing as the monster can often be pretty menial and rote, and sometimes you’ll find yourself asking why you’re playing to begin with. Victory just means you get more points to spend in a light RPG like progression system, unlocking perks and more monsters along the way.

Seeing as your main goal is to literally avoid hunters until you hit Stage 3 for the final chaotic showdown. In a sense, Evolve is kind of like the Dragonball Z saga: there’s a ton of talking and commercials that culminate in a short fight, where the powers clash.

When you’re playing as the monster, there can be a sense of urgency and danger. But this feeling fades away as you explore the rather drag environments–despite the “interactive wildlife”, everything seems so tacked on–and start to feed.

Maneuvering and controls vary from monster to monster; the Kraken, for example, can float and wisp along in the air, whereas the Goliath is primarily ground-based. The Goliath can leap and climb quite adeptly, but he’s not so fast when you need to get out of an area in a pinch.

The Wraith is my personal favorite; it’s snake-like and oily, using a variety of deadly skills like the dreaded Supernova and basic melee slices to dish out chaos. Plus the Wraith also has a decoy ability that’s amazing fun, even if it’s a bit broken.

How much you get out of being a monster just depends on how crafty you are and how well you adapt to your surroundings and pick up on new strategies. But the novelty, like the thrill of the hunt, seems to wear off fast, letting the mediocre shooter elements shine through.

When you’re playing as a hunter, there’s a distinct heavy emphasis on teamwork and knowing your role and sticking to it. Now FPS mechanics are in play here, but they take a backseat to team-oriented strategy with defined roles like Trappers, Medics, Assault and Support classes.

Trappers are responsible for dropping domes and laying out hook traps then dealing some DPS when possible; Assault classes are simply wreaking total chaos as the main DPS/tank; Support pays close attention on mitigating damage whenever possible with the shield projector and using cloak to hide and revive teammates; the Medic heals with a medgun, burst heal, or even heal grenades.

The beauty of the classes is that there are three different sub-classes, or characters, that each have their own unique weapons and abilities. The principle role still stands, but there’s a number of different ways going about it thanks to the sub-classes.

The post Evolve Review: Monster Of The Week appeared first on VR World.

The Gionee Elife E7 series is not exactly a new device, as the mid-sized flagship E7 mini was announced by the Chinese manufacturer in late 2013 and launched in Asia in mid 2014. However, the E7 mini is still on the company’s current lineup, along with the Elife S5.1 — the “world’s thinnest smartphone” — which perhaps signifies the firm’s approach to its product cycles. Even the aging Elife E7 is undergoing some sort of renaissance with a significant price drop, retailing at around $180, which is around 37% of its original price.

The E7 mini is supposedly a smaller version of the Elife E7, which had been Gionee’s flagship smartphone until it was supplanted by the waif-thin S5.5 and S5.1 handsets. However, a unique — or at least uncommon — characteristic is its swivelling camera, which gives some flexibility in terms of photo capturing angles and selfie-photography.

Gionee’s PR sent us a unit to review late 2014, and while this writer had been mostly exposed to, and preoccupied with, reviewing Windows Phones, I started appreciating some of Android’s benefits and nuances with this review.

Specifications

The Gionee Elife E7 mini is not exactly a specs monster, especially given its age, although it’s still a formidable smartphone that can handle Android capably.

• Chipset: Mediatek MT6592 Octa-core 1.7GHz Cortex A7
• GPU: Mali 450MP4
• RAM: 1GB
• Storage: 16GB, no microSD support
• Display: 4.7-inch 720×1080 px at ~312 ppi, IGZO capacitive touchscreen
• Camera: 13-megapixel rotating lens with LED flash
• Battery: Non-removable 2,200 mAh
• Network technology: GSM, HSPA

The Elife E7 mini’s main handicap is its use of an older Android version. The device ships with 4.2.2 Jelly Bean — customized with its own Amigo UI 2.0 — which means users will miss out on the performance and UI advantages latter versions offer.

The E7 mini, by the way, comes in a dual-SIM setup, meaning you can simultaneously run on two different networks or mobile accounts. I find this very useful when roaming abroad — I can simply purchase a cheap prepaid SIM for cheaper local data, calls and SMS.

Hardware Design and Build Quality

Build quality is one of the Elife E7 mini’s strong suits. The device has a unibody design, with the entire casing molded out of a single piece of polycarbonate. This comes with advantages and disadvantages: the battery is not user replaceable, and the only way to open up the device is to pry out the screen. However, it also means the phone is sturdier, and will not tend to creak under pressure or break apart when dropped. Even the micro-SIM slot, which holds both SIM1 and SIM2, is only accessible through a tray, which requires a pin to eject.

The only point of wear and tear is the swivelling camera. Now, there are advantages and disadvantages to this. First, a moving camera means you can take both regular shots and selfies using the same resolution lens. This is a big plus, compared to most other devices that have smaller-resolution fixed-focus front cameras. It also enables taking photos more discreetly (if the lens were swivelled into a position that does not make it obvious you’re taking pictures).

As for buttons and port placement, I appreciate how both the power/suspend and volume rockers are all on the right side. I know it can confuse most users coming from Samsung or Apple devices, but from someone used to Windows Phones, it seems more natural. Given the space the swivelling camera requires at the top, both micro-USB and 3.5mm audio ports are located at the bottom of the device.

What I don’t like here is how Gionee uses a sticker for the device’s certification labels. Yes, the unibody design precludes opening up the case, but these labels could have been incorporated more discreetly (the Lumia 930 has its labels engraved at the bottom of the metal frame, for example).

The post Gionee Elife E7 Mini: Well-Built Midrange Smartphone appeared first on VR World.

Developer: Techland
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Release Date: Jan. 27, 2015
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: First-person Survival, Action, Horror
MSRP: $59.99

Disclaimer: A digital copy of the game was received for Dying Light review on PlayStation 4.

Dying Light might look like any other zombie game, but I assure you, it’s not.

Yes it is made by Techland, and no it isn’t just another Dead Island clone. It’s something special and unique that represents the culmination of everything the developers learned from their mistakes with the previous games.

While Dying Light does borrow heavily from the core mechanics of Dead Island, the game has a deft and fluid grace that its predecessors lacked thanks to its new parkour-based locomotion.

And it also takes some of the best elements of the former series like crafting–adding makeshift blowtorch modules onto garden sickles or electrifying a police baton–as well as a RPG progression system.

Drop-in/drop-out co-op is also included, and is responsible for a good portion of the game’s replayability and fun factor.

Complimented with a bigger open-world sandbox filled with quests and activities and unique day-to-night transition that seamlessly changes a players role from hunter to hunted, Dying Light is one of the most entertaining and truly fun zombie games I’ve played in any generation of consoles.

Now let’s take a closer look at the bloody streets of Harran. Are you afraid of the dark? You should be.

A hero’s (zombie) journey

The overseas city of Harran is in flames. Misshapen monstrosities roam the streets, and the dead walk the earth, tearing swaths in the remaining population. The tropical resort has become a hellish nightmare that only gets worse when sun sets: that’s when the real terrors come out.

Society has splintered off into survivor factions, all fighting for precious supplies like weapons, food, and antizin, a drug that delays the symptoms of the zombie virus. But antizin is used as a commodity by Rais, a brutal despot who extorts survivors with his band of machine-gun toting ruffians.

Players take the role of GRE operative Kyle Crane, who acts as the central agent of change for the city of Harran.

Crane is a nondescript hero who must juggle a number of alliances to uphold his undercover status, ultimately leading to a true test of his morals and willpower as things become more and more dire for the citizens of the Tower.

The story has a distinct dramatic flair, with a few twists and turns, but overall is a decent backdrop to a ruined world. The stage is set by a soldier who soon realizes that his mission will ultimately compromise his humanity–standard fare in the weight of secrets upon a truly good-hearted hero.

But it becomes more and more dynamic and winding the more you progress, taxing our hero more and more. At one point Rais captures him and forces him to fight in an arena against undead, which ends up going quite amazingly well.

B-movie style

To me Dying Light feels distinctly like a B-movie, and that’s one of the many reasons I love this game.

Having seen a ton of horror movies and monster flicks, it has a decidedly cultish flair that seems to marry classic Romero sentiments with outlandish Troma-style gore. And the music feels very Carpenter-esque (something of a mix between Halloween III and Manhunter‘s creepy synth-tones).

And like a lot of campy B-movies and cult flicks, Dying Light makes use of no-brainer concepts like keeping safe zones completely devoid of ladders or stairs. Some zones are even built on floating piers, away from prowling undead.

Small things like these speak wonders and make traditional pop-culture zombie franchises look rather foolish by comparison.

It has style, it has its own allure that is suffused with a number of visceral horror elements that make it stand out quite clearly when compared to other zombie games. It’s a delightful mish-mash of both subtle fear and obscene blood and guts that shines an intimate look at the genre as a whole.

This is mostly fleshed out by the game’s day and night transitions.

During the day, players are pretty much free to do what they like: scout for items, molotov an entire horde of undead, tackle sidequests or just soak up the rays on a tropical beach. In the daytime, you’re the hunter.

But during the night? You’re the hunted. You’re prey.

Terror rules the night. The symbolism of night being dangerous and full of evils (as GRRM would say, the night is dark and full of terrors) has always interested me. So it’s with no small enjoyment that I found myself utterly captivated by the disorientation of being hunted in the dead of night.

Night is when the Volatiles, those super-powerful agile zombies, come out and play. And not all the parkour in the world can save you once you have a horde of those horrors on your back.

To even the odds Crane has a UV light to ward them off, and there are also UV light traps strewn through the city, but overall stealth is your best bet at night.

Strategic undead warfare

Combat is the most enjoyable part of Dying Light, and it’s a delicious meal that has all sorts of dishes and tastes.

There are so many different ways you can take on zombies in the game. If you’re the type that likes to bathe in zombie blood, jump right in and start swinging with a meat cleaver for some slicing-and-dicing.

You can use the multitudes of spike traps or explosive pools of gasoline to annihilate groups, or pick them off with well-placed shots from a rifle. Be aware that Walking Dead rules apply here, and loud bangs will attract tougher menaces to deal with.

Crane is a very nimble fighter, and in many ways he kind of reminds me of the Waterdancer Syrio Forel. His dodge move allows him to easily hop out of the way of an incoming Demolisher’s strike, or a skull-crushing swing of a two-handed rebar maul.

The kicks are another amazing feature. When I played Dead Island: Riptide as John Morgan, I kicked and kicked and kicked some more. I loved it. And this game adds the kick as a simple secondary feature, letting you disarm and sometimes even stun enemies.

Strategy and preference make up one half of combat, and really it’s all up to you how you dispatch the undead.

I myself love using firecrackers to get zombies massed together, and then tossing a molotov to slowly burn them out. When you level up your Survivor tree things can get much more interesting.

For example you can use freezing throwing stars to immobilize troublesome baddies in place, or toss a toxic grenade in their midst for some slow poison damage. You can even use some flammable liquid and combo off of your fire-enhanced weapons for explosive damage.

Loot, sweet loot

Items are the other hemisphere of combat, and Dying Light one-ups Dead Island in a few key ways. You can still pick up swords and axes and hammers–the basic advantages of melee weapons over guns still stands–but Techland has raised the ante a bit in terms of customization.

Every item can be upgraded and fit with a custom mod for double the carnage. Upgrades only raise stats like damage, durability and handling, whereas mods will imbue the item with interesting elemental affinities.

Also a lot of these affinities can combo off of specific materials and items–we’ve already explored how flammable liquid combos off of fire weapons, but the same is true for conducting liquid and electrically-charged crowbars, swords, etc.

There are a ton of unique items peppered through Harran, some of which are secrets. There’s the Excalibur sword hidden in a zombie corpse, the devastating sick bomb that’s awarded to you after a tedious game of checkers, the ultra-powerful Korek machete (named after a Techland employee) and a number of other goodies.

Sometimes, though, the best items are the ones you make yourself. Other times you’ll want to go ahead and just upgrade a Korek machete with a King’s Mod and just go to town.

Bloody chaos and parkour

Combat is a visceral, bloody and brutal experience.

You get up close and personal with the zombies–the game makes you feel when you hit that perfect critical and smash in their heads, bringing the total panicky terror when you’re overrun by dozens of undead.

Sometimes it can be satisfying, other times it can get out of control. I myself keep things interesting by complimenting my melee strikes by using throwing weapons, traps, and other mechanisms of destruction.

In terms of movement, the game flows exceedingly well thanks to its new parkour system. This pretty much gives you the freedom to explore and move across any area of the game, sprinting across rooftops or wall-jumping and leaping across high distances.

The parkour is smooth, and to me it’s smoother than Mirror’s Edge simply because you don’t have to keep that momentum going at all times. Plus later on you get a wall-jump that pretty much makes it so you can grasp any ledge, no matter how high it is.

That being said the parkour can be finicky at times. Early on you’ll learn what ledges you can grasp (anything without barbed wire) versus those you just can’t. And sometimes you’ll miss anyway. It happens.

And there’s a grappling hook. Yes, it’s amazingly fun, but you won’t get it until you’re level 12 in Survivor rank.

Skill progression

Speaking of ranks, there are three major RPG skill progression trees: Agility (running, jumping, sliding, parkouring, etc), Survivor (saving NPC’s, doing missions, side quests, grabbing air drops) and Power (killing zombies in any fashion, whether with weapons or traps).

Each tree has three tiers, and my favorite is the Survivor tree.

You can use it to create some pretty badass items, from elemental throwing stars, shields that can actually soak up damage and inflict status ailments, boosters and tonics too buff your armor and stamina, and even makeshift grenades.

Add to that a massive open-world sandbox filled with tons of easter eggs, hidden items, blueprints and volatile zombies and you’ve got the city of Harran. The in-game world is pretty huge and there’s a ton of side quests and NPC’s to interact with, along with a sprawling metropolis replete with different sections and areas.

In short there’s always something to do in the game, and all of it is pretty entertaining.

Co-Op

The co-operative play is amazingly well done.

Even when I’m playing with a full team of four I have hardly had any lag, and we pretty much decimated everything that was in our path. It’s a great way to blow off steam for some mindless chaotic fun, and to earn a lot of cash looting the dead zombies.

The only gripe I have with co-op is that all the players have to be in the same spot to initiate a mission or quest. A lot of the time random players will scatter to the four winds, but if someone’s trying to kick off a quest, you can actually teleport to their location in a jiffy.

I’ve had a blast with the co-op so far, and I’ve actually met a few new friends who I join for some high-stakes questing–and they even showed me a thing or two about Easter eggs, especially the incredibly amusing Super Mario Bros. parkour level.

Quirky NPC’s

I have to give a shout out to some of the most odd and comical NPC’s I’ve encountered in my time as a gamer.

Dying Light is full of unique characters who actually have character. It’s very refreshing to come in contact with a guy who’s willing to give me an impression before he just sends me on a fetch quest.

Some memorable NPC’s include those idiosyncratic twins Tolga and Fatin, who, after sending me on a fetch quest, initiated in a very entertaining bit of banter where they argued about who’s smarter Cornelius or Dr. Saius.

“Orangutans are smarter”, Tolga tells his half-wit brother in an obvious tone, “Cornelius didn’t even have a PhD.”

Then there’s Edwin Snowberg, a horror movie director who actually flew into Harran just so he could get cheap footage for his next zombie movie, Zombie Annihilation IV: Dying Lunch. Snowberg sends you on a mini-game where you blast zombies with a shotgun, and rewards you with cash. I love it.

Conclusion

Dying Light is zombie survival sim done right.

It keeps the tried and true Dead Island formula but patches up so many things that the original series missed out on, including free-flowing parkour, a more dynamic open-world, and more satisfying combat.

There’s a massive level of depth to the game that can be explored in so many ways, whether it’s with a friend (or group of friends or strangers) in co-op, or simply alone. The storyline is pretty decent and has some memorable characters like Jade and Rais to fill things in, but all in all the mechanics make the game what it is..

With a range of amazingly satisfying strategic-based combat mechanics, massive level of replayability, dazzling graphical fidelity, quirky NPC’s and a huge artillery of quests and side quests, Dying Light is pretty much my new favorite zombie game and we’re confident that after you try it, it’ll be yours as well.

The post Dying Light Review: Dead of Night appeared first on VR World.

City traffic has become so bad these days that it has become impractical to drive a big SUV with boat-like handling characteristics. It’s much easier to zip around town in a subcompact or small hatchback, after all. The fact that fuel prices falling to record lows due to the drop in oil prices is just icing on the cake, especially if your daily commute to work involves inching through parking lot-like traffic jams.

For Hyundai, its small cars are the top sellers in Asian markets like India and the Philippines, where the Korean company’s Eon and i10 lines are common sights on the street. Even as the more formidable Starex, Sta. Fe, Tucson, Elantra and Accent are also popular, nothing beats a low price tag, especially in emerging markets.

But even then, small does not necessarily mean cheap. Our review model for this automotive feature is the 2015 Hyundai Grand i10, a subcompact hatchback directly competing with the Suzuki/Maruti Swift, and recent market entrants, the new Mitsubishi Mirage and Toyota Wigo. Price-wise, however, the Grand i10 is a bit on the steep side, which means the choice might come between this subcompact hatch or a bigger — although lower trim — subcompact sedan. Even Hyundai’s own Accent has a lower starting price than the top-spec Grand i10.

Hyundai often attaches the “Grand” moniker to significantly-upgraded models, and for the i10, this marks the car’s second generation, first launched in late 2013. The Grand i10 is 100 mm longer than its predecessor, and the top-spec variant also offers features and amenities that one might find more at home on more expensive and larger vehicles, such as safety and electronics packages.

Specifications

Our review model is the top-of-the-line L variant, powered by a 1.2 liter Kappa motor delivering a maximum power of 87 ps @ 6,000 RPM and torque of 12.2 nm @ 4,000 RPM, with 0-100 Kph acceleration rated at 15 seconds. Motor-driven power steering makes turning light, with a tight turning radius. LxWxH is 3,765 mm x 1,660 mm x 1,505 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,425 mm. Cargo space is measured at 1,202 liters.

The Grand i10’s Kappa motor comes in a mostly aluminum construction to minimize weight, resulting in the car’s having a curb weight of 941 to 998 Kg. In the Philippine market, the Grand i10’s starting price is PhP 538,000 (US$ 12,155) for the base model, climbing up to PhP 688,000 (US$ 15,544) for the top-spec model. The difference comes mainly in the following:

• 1.2 L vs. 1.0 L displacement
• Alloy wheels vs. Steel with full wheelcap
• Electrically-actuated folding side mirrors
• Rear parking assist (Camera- and radar-assistance)

Note that Hyundai actually had to reprice the Grand i10, perhaps to better compete against the 3-cylinder Toyota Wigo and Mitsubishi Mirage, which have taken over Manila streets of late.

Design, comfort and amenities

The Hyundai Grand i10 has more than the usual small-car amenities that you would wonder why these don’t already come standard even on bigger cars. The touchscreen LCD makes navigating the entertainment system a breeze. Shift to Reverse and you get a rear-view camera. You even get push-to-start ignition.

Inside the cabin, space is what you would expect from a subcompact hatch — it will surely feel a bit claustrophobic if you’re more used to bigger sedans or SUVs. However, the ride is comfortable enough, with adequate NVH insulation and a supple suspension. Comparing the Grand i10 with the Honda Jazz, which we reviewed a few months back, I can say that the Grand i10 is surprisingly more comfortable.

I’m not too fond of the resistive nature of the 7-inch touchscreen, however, as it is sometimes inaccurate and would require repeated presses to register a touch. With the popularity of capacitive displays even on cheap tablets today, I wonder why Hyundai has to settle with a resistive screen. The lack of audio controls on the steering wheel can also be concerning, especially since Hyundai has already put in this level of kit on the Grand i10.

Unlike the Honda Jazz, the Grand i10’s seating design is more conventional, with the fuel tank situated right below the rear passenger bench. The rear backrest folds in full (no split), but it doesn’t fold flat. This can be quite limiting in terms of carrying big cargo like boxes or furniture. Legroom is comparable to most subcompact sedans — it’s evident that Hyundai put in the extra length into extending the rear passenger space.

Audio quality is acceptable, and you can plug in your phone or USB thumbdrive for MP3 playback. The car’s head unit also supports Bluetooth audio, enabling music playback from your smartphone and handsfree communication while driving.

The Grand i10 also comes standard with a navigation system. While apps like Waze and Google Maps are already formidable alternatives to a car-bound GPS navigation system, it’s good to know that Hyundai has incorporated a feature once reserved for more premium models (even the Nissan Altima that VR World reviewed in November did not have this feature).

The post Hyundai Grand i10: The Little Car That Could appeared first on VR World.

Noctua is a well-known manufacturer of cooling solutions, with its unique brown-colored line of heatsinks considered to be one of the best available in the market. The Austrian-based manufacturer launched a new line of heatsinks late last year, with one model – the NH-D9DX i4 3U – aimed at LGA2011 socketed servers, while the other two – the NH-U9S and NH-D9L – targeted at consumers.

Noctua has several heatsinks in the 120mm to 140mm category, and now with the 92mm offerings it is looking to target smaller form factors like mini-ITX and HTPC. The goal with the NH-U9S and NH-D9L is to provide a similar amount of performance as the larger heatsinks albeit in a much smaller footprint.

NH-D9L overview

The NH-D9L is a dual-tower cooler with a fan at the center. There is also the ability to attach another fan to create a push pull mechanism. The fan in question, the NF-A9, is PWM controllable, and has custom rubber and nylon inserts to prevent it from coming into contact with the heatsink, mitigating noise levels in the process.

The NH-D9L sits lower than other offerings from Noctua in this series and is designed to slot into smaller form factor cases with ease. The 95x95mm footprint means that it won’t come into contact of any expansion slots or memory modules. Clearance of 110mm means that it is significantly lower than the larger products in the NH-D series, like the NH-D14, which has a height of 160mm.

Coming to the heatsink itself, the base and heatpipes of the NH-D9L are made out of copper, with aluminium the material of choice for the fin stack. There are 35 aluminium fins on either stack, and the design of the NH-D9L is such that the fan is larger than the fin stacks, sticking out at the top and bottom. The four heatpipes traverse through the fin stack, culminating in spikes at the top. The surface of the heatsink is not quite mirror-like, but it is smooth and flat, which is what is needed in this case.

The post Noctua NH-U9S And NH-D9L Review: The Best CPU Coolers For Small Enclosures appeared first on VR World.

Today many of us are faced with an ever escalating amount of personal data that can at times seem like a major hassle to manage and maintain. Sure, the cloud is becoming an increasingly convenient way to store messages, emails, photos and even your lowly mp3 collection, but when it comes to the larger file sizes involved with maintaining your HD media collection, the emergence of the Home Cloud and Network Attached Storage takes on much more significance.

Storage device manufacturers are wise to the dilemmas that consumers face, and the fact is that not all of us are geeks that are willing to build our own storage device from the ground up using old PC parts as we perhaps were in the past. And why would you when there are some many great options out there from a wide variety of vendors?

Today we have a chance to hone in on a Home Cloud solution from renowned storage device vendor Thecus with a review of the company’s N2560 NAS (Network Attached Storage).

The Thecus N2560 Network Attached Storage

In the broader NAS world of 2015 you can identify two distinct categories of NAS; those based on the proprietary Windows Home Server OS and those based on a Linux (usually Debian) derived OS. The Thecus N2560 belongs in the latter category and is positioned as a the ideal solution for Small or Home Office environments. It features two SATA 3.5 inch hard drive bays, an Intel Atom processor, 2GB of RAM, lots of connectivity options, all housed in a compact sleek design that is optimized to look the part in your living room as well as your home office.

The Thecus N2560 can be found for retail at a price point of around $230-$240 USD which means that it is by no means the cheapest two-bay NAS option out there. Thecus are not aiming for the entry-level however, bringing together a storm of advanced features that includes low power and low noise operation, a HDMI output so it can be used as a straight up media streaming device, plus a plethora of apps and utilities designed to help you get the most out of your NAS.

Thecus N2560 NAS: Full Specifications

• Intel Atom CE5335 processor (1.6GHz Dual-core)
• 2GB DDR3
• 2 x SATA 3.0
• Supports RAID 0,1 and JBOD
• Hot-swappable HDD support
• Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Base-TX
• Wake-on-LAN Support
• 2 x USB 2.0 host port (rear)
• 1 x USB 3.0 host port (front)
• HDMI Port (rear)
• SPDIF (rear)
• Power, USB Copy and Reset Buttons
• 166mm x 114mm x 210mm

The retail package contains an Ethernet cable, power adapter plus power cord, quick installation guide, warranty card and the ubiquitous All in One Driver DVD. There are also four white plastic strips which you use to mount the hard drives.

If we consider the basic specification list of the N2560 we can immediately see that the device actually has a reasonable amount of performance packed into a small form factor device. Intel Atom processors used to be regarded as offering the bare minimum when it came raw horsepower, but the newer CE5335 is a low power multi-media processor that packs a PowerVR Graphics Processor from Imagination Technologies. The platform delivers solid playback of Full HD video streaming content and enough grunt to keep things snappy. The Dual-core Intel Atom chip is backed by a reasonably solid 2GB of DDR3 and manages to offer read and write speeds that are well within our expectations. In terms of pure hardware components, it’s difficult to find fault.

The post Thecus Can Do Better: N2560 NAS Review appeared first on VR World.

When Microsoft launched the Lumia 535, its first branded smartphone after absorbing Nokia’s mobile and services division, the strategy had become clear: that the company will start focusing on the low-end in its quest to gain market share in the smartphone industry. This has been further cemented with the announcement of the Lumia 435 and 532, budget Windows Phone 8.1 smartphones clearly targeted at the masses — the devices are even priced lower. After all, a core focus for the company is “connecting the next billion people to the Internet.”

Outside of smartphones, Microsoft also has the Nokia 215 up its sleeve — a sub-$30 feature phone that will enable access to apps like Facebook Messenger and Opera Mini. This is clearly aimed at emerging markets, where the priority is to connect people through mobile Internet, even if it’s through a small screen and slow transfer speeds.

Priced at about $120 unlocked, the Microsoft Lumia 535 seems to strike a balance between the low-end and mid-range. Microsoft markets it as having a “555” strategy, offering a 5-inch touchscreen display, 5-megapixel main camera and 5-megapixel wide-angle front camera for selfies.

As with most entry-level devices, it’s not exactly stellar in terms of specs and design. But being a Windows Phone, performance is decent even this low in the price and spec range. A clear advantage over the Lumia 530 and 520 it replaces in this segment are the bigger screen and better camera. While the user experience is decent, I do have some gripes with the screen being washed out — something common in this price range for Lumia devices. With this pricing, there has to be some compromise in component quality.

Specs

The Microsoft Lumia 535 is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 Cortex A7 clocked at 1.2 GHz. Display is powered by an Adreno 302 GPU, outputting 540×960 pixels onto a 5-inch screen. This results in a PPI of approximately 222. The devices comes with 8GB of flash storage, with the system eating up about half. Good news for photo and music junkies: the device supports miroSD cards up to 128GB. Storage is augmented by 15GB of OneDrive storage — Microsoft account holders who have activated auto backup in September 2014 will have up to 30GB free.

The 535 thankfully has 1GB of RAM, which should improve app performance over previous entry-level devices. Even the “affordable flagship” Lumia 830 ships with 1GB, so raw performance can be comparable, memory-wise.

The Lumia 535 comes with a 1,905 mAh removable battery, which is rated at 552 hours standby and 11 or 13 hours talk time (2G and 3G, respectively). In real-world scenarios, however, I would usually get about 55 hours standby time on this device, with a few calls, news reading and and Skype chats.

Our review device is the Dual SIM variant, which means you can use two SIM cards simultaneously — a great way to reduce device clutter in your purse or pocket, or at least get more than one active line on the phone, whether from the same or different networks. It’s a handy feature whilst roaming — you can keep your current number and also use a local prepaid SIM to save on data, SMS and call costs.

Comparing it with the Lumia 530 it replaces, the 535 is certainly an improvement, although the devices sport basically the same procssor. You can see VR World‘s review of the Lumia 530 from a few months back.

Design and User Experience

The 535 sports the familiar Lumia design — polycarbonate removable back cover that comes in bright colors. The phone comes in orange, green, black and white, with the latter two coming in matte, while the more colorful ones in shiny finish. Our review unit was orange, and while the shiny plastic can be a fingerprint magnet, it’s also provides better grip, which should help reduce accidental drops.

Button layout should also be familiar to longtime Lumia users, with all keys at the right side of the phone: volume rocker at the top and sleep/power button at the middle. Sorry, no dedicated camera button here. Microsoft has done away with the dedicated capacitive softkeys, with on-screen soft keys that can be hidden and shown with a swiping-up motion. This can take some getting used to, especially for those more familiar with fixed capacitive touch keys.

Screen is a bit washed out in direct sunlight

The 3.5 mm audio jack is at the center top, while the USB port is at the center bottom. Pretty standard stuff, unlike the Lumia 830 we earlier reviewed, which had the USB port at the top.

The box comes with Microsoft-branded earphones, Microsoft-branded wall charger and a USB cable. Everything looked suspiciously the same as Nokia’s bundled accessories, only they now carry Microsoft branding.

The post Microsoft Lumia 535: Budget Smartphone Done Right appeared first on VR World.

Nvidia has announced the latest video card in the GeForce 900 series, the GeForce GTX 960. With the GTX 980 and GTX 970 targeting high-end and mid-tier segments, it is now time for Nvidia to turn its attention to the entry-level segment with the GTX 960.

Based on the Maxwell architecture, the GTX 960 is designed to enable full-HD gaming, with the GTX 980 and GTX 970 targeting beyond full-HD resolutions. The GTX 960 is aimed as the successor to the GTX 660 and GTX 760, but with better performance and lowered power consumption. With pricing starting at $200 for the card, it is clear that Nvidia is looking to deliver great performance at an affordable price with the GTX 960.

Zotac GeForce GTX 960 AMP! Edition

Zotac is offering the GTX 960 in standard and overclocked variants, with the factory overclocked version dubbed the AMP! Edition. The Zotac GTX 960 continues on from the rest of the GeForce 900 series when it comes to low power consumption and high overclocking headroom, but this time the focus is on the budget segment.

Zotac’s GTX 960 AMP! Edition is a non-standard design from the vendor, and includes a custom backplate as well as 90mm fans, which Zotac calls IceStorm. There are other additions that give the card the ability to clock to over 1,500 MHz.

The GTX 960 AMP! Edition comes with a 1,266 MHz core clock and a 1,329 boost clock. Other vendors have also launched factory overclocked variants of the GTX 960, but Zotac’s variant offers the highest clocks.

Boasting a 128-bit wide memory bus and a 2GB GDDR5 memory at 7 Gbps, Zotac’s card can achieve a memory bandwidth of 112GB/s, and has 1024 CUDA cores. The numbers are exactly half of what is offered by the standard variant of the GTX 980, which boasts 2048 CUDA cores, 4GB GDDR5 video memory and a 256-bit wide memory interface.

While the numbers may seem low, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) is stating that users would be able to deliver a higher bandwidth by undertaking a lossless texture compression technology that significantly reduces memory bandwidth usage. An effective bandwidth figure of 144 GB/s was quoted.

Unlike the GTX 980 and GTX 970, the GTX 960 is not based on the GM204 silicon. Nvidia has instead announced the GM206 GPU, which has a smaller 228mm² die size than the 400mm² size of the GM204. A GPU with smaller die makes sense considering the GTX 960 is aimed at maximizing efficiency.

Here’s where the GTX 960 slots in with the rest of the GeForce 900 series:

In terms of connectivity, the GTX 960 AMP! Edition has three DisplayPort 1.2 connectors that can handle 4K resolutions (4096 x 2160 and 3840 x 2160) at 60Hz. There’s also a dual-link DVI-I that can drive QHD (2560 x 1600) resolutions, but the port that is most interesting is HDMI 2.0, which finally offers 4K resolutions (4096 x 2160) at 60Hz. The display controller can simultaneously support as many as four displays. The controller can even drive a 5K (5120×2880) screen. 

Power consumption has been one of the major areas of focus with Maxwell, and that continues with the GTX 960 as well, which has a max TDP of 120W. The low power utilization means that the card comes with a single 6-pin connector. DirectX 12 compatibility means that the GTX 960 now comes with OpenGL 4.4.

The GTX 960 AMP! Edition comes with a slew of additions from Zotac, including the new 90mm fans called IceStorm. Originally debuted on the overclocked variants of the GTX 980 and GTX 970, the dual 90mm fans work in conjunction with the 6mm copper heatpipes and the aluminum fin stack to maximize airflow. The custom backplate, with its gunmetal structure, gives the card added rigidity.

Zotac is introducing a new idle mode which will see the fans switch off if the temperature falls below 59° C, or when the TDP is under 13W. The option, called Freeze, is designed to minimize noise levels when not under load.

The post Zotac GeForce GTX 960 AMP! Edition Review: Maxwell’s Budget Workhorse Is Here appeared first on VR World.

After years of delays, Samsung (KRX:005935) unveiled its first handset running Tizen in India earlier this month. The phone signifies a new direction for Samsung in the ever competitive entry-level segment as the South Korean manufacturer sees to regain momentum. The pricing of the device at $90 (Rs. 5,700) is very aggressive, and is in line with what manufacturers like Xiaomi and Motorola are targeting.

The device

The Samsung Z1 looks like any other Samsung device in terms of external design. Plastic is used in abundance, and the menu, home and back button configuration is also present. The home button has been slightly altered and is more rounded. There’s also a metallic finish around the sides of the device. While the design is not drastically different, the Z1 retains the great build quality that is associated with all Samsung handsets. 

Also present is the removable back cover, which houses the dual SIM card slots. Coming to the hardware on offer, the Z1 has a 4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 800 x 480. Other budget handsets like Xiaomi’s Redmi 1S and Motorola’s Moto E offer a better screen — 720p and qHD — but for the amount that the Z1 costs, pixel density of 233 ppi is great. Contrast levels as well as viewing angles are decent, which is a good thing considering that the display is a TFT and not an IPS panel.

Internal hardware is in the form of a Spreadtrum SC7727S SoC, which features a dual-core Cortex A7 CPU and Mali 400 GPU. There’s 4GB internal memory, which can be extended by a further 64GB via the microSD card slot, 768MB RAM, 3.15 MP camera at the back along with a VGA front shooter and 1,500 mAh battery. In terms of connectivity, you get Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, A-GPS and microUSB 2.0. FM radio is also included.

The Z1 does not offer anything out of the ordinary in terms of hardware, but that isn’t what Samsung is aiming for. With the Z1, it is all about the software and Tizen.

Tizen is finally here

Tizen on the Z1 feels a lot like TouchWiz. It actually feels like what TouchWiz should have been to begin with, as there is barely any lag whatsoever when using the device on a day to day basis. The design itself is very similar to that of the newer iterations of TouchWiz, with the drop-down menu utilizing a bright green color hue. The menu has easy access settings for Wi-Fi, cellular data, sound, flashlight, Bluetooth and others, which is once again very similar to what is offered in Samsung’s Galaxy series of devices.

A noticeable change in Tizen is the lack of an app drawer, with all apps accessible with a swipe action. There is a dearth of content — as one would expect — in Tizen, but Samsung is looking to address the glaring omissions by launching custom versions of apps like WhatsApp. Users will also be able to install Android apps on Tizen by first installing OpenMobile’s Application Compatibility Layer from the Tizen store.

Samsung is incentivizing the purchase of the Z1 by offering a host of content for free to customers via Club Samsung. With the promotion, anyone buying the Z1 will be able to stream or download over 270,000 songs through Hungama, access over 80 live TV channels, watch several Bollywood movies on the go and more.

There are a few nice touches bit into Tizen that makes it all the more enticing for first-time buyers. When setting up a service like WhatsApp for the first time, the phone detects the confirmation text message and keys in the value without any user intervention.

Overall, the Z1 is astonishingly fluid for the hardware it features. Tizen was claimed by several leaks over the course of the last two years to be much more lightweight than the likes of Android, and that indeed is the case. There isn’t a noticeable lag when launching apps, and the user interface as a whole feels seamless, which is a drastic improvement

The device itself may not feature hardware to write home about, but it is the sheer amount of content Samsung is bundling with the Z1 that makes it worthy of consideration. Giving away a lot of premium content isn’t a new strategy for the South Korean manufacturer as seen with the Galaxy Gifts promotion for the high-end Galaxy Tab S, Galaxy S and the Galaxy Note series. But this time around, it is doing so with a device targeted at the entry-level segment. 

The market scenario

With the Z1, Samsung is going for the first-time buyers. While Tizen looks like it offers an interesting mix of features, the fact that it is in its nascent stages will deter several potential customers from buying the Z1. Also, vendors like Xiaomi, Motorola and others are offering much better hardware for the same price, and even if the Z1 is not as hardware-intensive as similarly priced Android devices, that mentality of comparing specs has become entrenched in the Indian market. Often, specs do not dictate how well a mobile performs, but with devices offering octa-core processors for as low as $140, consumers are increasingly judging the merits of a handset based on its spec sheet.

Samsung does have a loyal userbase in the country, but it remains to be seen whether the manufacturer will be able to claw its way back in this segment with the Z1. The device itself is not at fault, and is actually one of the better offerings from Samsung considering that even until a few years ago, we’ve had to contend with the likes of the Galaxy Star. Where Samsung will struggle with most when it comes to the Z1 is in marketing a device running a new OS that doesn’t feature anywhere nearly as good hardware as the Android mobiles it is going up against.

The post Hands-on With Samsung Z1: Tizen Makes Its Debut On Mobile appeared first on VR World.

If you have been using computers for more than a few years it is likely that you have seen plenty of sound cards.  If someone were to ask you about a USB sound card, would you think of a less than ideal dongle with little to no features with entry level sound quality?

Well, that was then and times sure have changed with feature packed external soundcards that are of good quality on the market.  There are even ones out there that will be good with gaming and allowing the user to experience 3D surround sound while wearing headphones to help pinpoint the action.  The Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 USB soundcard is a shining example of what an external sound card these days should be.

Specifications

• Model: Sound Blaster Omni #70SB156000000
• Channels: 5.1
• Interface: USB

System Requirements

On PC platform

• Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD equivalent processor at 2.2 GHzMicrosoft Windows 8 / Windows 7 / Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows 8 / Windows 7 / Windows Vista
• 1GB RAM600MB free hard disk space
• 600MB free hard disk space
• CDROM / DVDROM driveUSB 2.0 port
• USB 2.0 port

On Mac Platform

• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8GHz
• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8GHz
• Mac OS 10.6 & above1GB RAM
• 1GB RAM
• 600MB free hard disk spaceInternet connection
• Internet connection
• USB 2.0 portFeatures

Features

• USB simplicity and portabilityBuilt-in dual microphones with CrystalVoice technology
• Built-in dual microphones with CrystalVoice technology
• Sound Blaster Omni Control Panel
• Dolby Digital Live600-ohm headphone amplifier
• 600-ohm headphone amplifier
• Scout mode
• Comprehensive connectivity for all your PC and Mac audio needs

The post You Need a USB Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 USB Reviewed appeared first on VR World.

For over 25 years ResMed has been providing medical equipment for sleep-disorder breathing. They are clearly not a johnny-come-lately, jumping on the latest hi-tech bandwagon. This fall ResMed introduced the S+, a no-contact sleep tracking device developed for the consumer.  This differs greatly from wearables such as the Basis Peak and the Jawbone UP systems that promise to track sleep as well as steps, calories, and activity.

The ResMed S+ uses a combination of respiratory and biomotion sensors that not only monitor your motion and breathing while you sleep, but the temperature, light and noise in your bedroom as well. In addition to the biomotion sensor device, ResMed S+ has a smartphone app for iOS or Android. The application connects to the ResMed proprietary cloud and your nightly data is compared to hundreds of thousands of recorded nights of sleep from their other medical prescription respiratory devices. The app makes suggestions for a better night’s sleep based on the data it collects.

Getting a good night’s sleep is something all of us need and want. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60 percent of people report they have problems sleeping almost every night. Continual sleep problems can lead to next-day drowsiness and increases in health related issues like congestive heart failure, obesity, and diabetes. Many people suffer from sleep apnea which is when you stop breathing during the night. Such individuals, usually, wake up with a snort for air, which disrupts a good night’s sleep. As you might guess, sleep apnea can be fatal. Do you have sleep apnea? Take the quiz provided by ResMed.

Now that you understand the importance of the information provided by ResMed S+, let’s take a look at what you get in the ResMed box for $149.95.

The post ResMed S+: High Tech Help for Good Night’s Sleep appeared first on VR World.

Asus’s Rampage Extreme line has long been considered by many as some of the top overclocking boards that have been on the market, and the Rampage V Extreme is in the same boat.

When the board first came out there was a lot of talk about the inclusion of a non-standard OC-Socket, an aftermarket LGA 2011-v3 socket that has additional contact pins.  These pins help feed additional voltage to the CPU and result in what we have found to be very impressive and stable overclocking from the board.

But is this just a gimmick or is it really something that will make a difference?  The answer we find is that this is no joke and that the board by far surpasses every other X99 motherboard that is currently available when it comes to cache/uncore overclocking.  This leads to massive performance gains that other boards will not be able to achieve and quite frankly they are left in the Rampage V Extreme’s dust.  Once again Asus continues the legend of the Rampage Extreme line with this shining example of engineering and hardware dominance.

Asus Rampage V Extreme Specifications:

• CPU Socket Type: LGA 2011-v3
• Supported CPU Technologies: Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• Chipset: Intel X99Onboard Video: None
• Onboard Video: None
• Audio Chipset: ROG SupremeFX 2014
• Audio Channels: 8 Channels
• LAN Chipset: Intel I218-V
• Max LAN Speed: 10/100/1000MbpsWireless LAN: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 3T3R supports frequency band 2.4/5 GHz
• Wireless LAN: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 3T3R supports frequency band 2.4/5 GHz
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth v4.0

Memory:

• Number of Memory Slots: 8×288pin
• Memory Standard: DDR4 3300(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) / 2133
• Maximum Memory Supported: 64GB
• Channel Supported: Quad Channel

Expansion Slots:

• PCI Express 3.0 x16: 4 (40-lane CPU @ x16, x16/x16, x16/x8/x8 or x16/x8/x8/x8; 28-lane CPU @ x16, x16/x8, x8/x8/x8)
• PCI Express 2.0 x16: 1 (Max. at x4 mode)
• PCI Express x1: 1
• Quad-GPU NVIDIA 4-Way SLI and AMD 4-way/Quad-GPU CrossFireX Technology (support up to 3-Way with 28-lane CPU)

 Storage Devices:

• SATA 6Gb/s: 8 x SATA 6Gb/s
• SATA Express: Intel X99 – 1 x SATA Express port, red, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports , ASMedia SATA Express controller – 1 x SATA Express port, red, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports
• M.2: 1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, support type 2260/2280/22110 storage devices
• SATA RAID: 0/1/5/10

Rear Panel Ports:

• PS/2: 1
• RJ45: 1 x RJ45
• USB 3.0: 10 x USB 3.0
• USB 1.1/2.0: 2 x USB 2.0
• S/PDIF Out: 1 x Optical
• Audio Ports: 5 Ports

Internal I/O Connectors:

• Onboard USB
• 4 x USB 3.0
• 4 x USB 2.0

The post Asus Rampage V Extreme: An Overclocking Monster appeared first on VR World.

Koss Headphones had a 2014 full of flagship products launched this year, with its sights aimed at an optimistic future. The NFC enabled BT540i simplified Bluetooth listening on mobile devices, then their ergonomic SP330 & SP540 delivered comfortable music enjoyment for all. Finally, Koss will end the year on a high note with its new Pro4S stereophones, geared toward studio and music monitoring.

But what are “studio” headphones, and what makes them different from other models? Most headphones may have a compensated or enhanced EQ to tailor towards certain listener preferences — i.e. more bass. Reference or studio monitoring needs to be free of any tuning, for those who need to listen to an accurate representation of their content, like audio engineers and music producers.

So, we put the Pro4S to the test all month — at home, at a Hollywood recording studio, and on a TV production. Here’s what we found:

The design

The Pro4S is a full-sized, circumaural studio headphone that is a fine blend of transparent sound, comfortable durability, and practical design. Weighing a hair under 7 oz (195 g), even as an over-ear model, it’s compact and light enough for use in any environment.

Its tough, aluminum internal frame is encased by both metal and plastic molding, and outfitted with soft, breathable materials for the best strength and comfort. The headband is supported with memory foam and mesh cloth that feels weightless, even after many hours of wear. The ear cup hinges are also metallic and soft-locking, for added durability without creating temporal pressure.

Comfort and weight are vital for studio applications, where engineers can log many more hours of use than home listeners. That’s why the Pro4S also features the same “D-profile” ear cups first featured on Koss’ classic Pro4AAA, and its recent SP series headphones. Because of this shape, you’ll get great passive isolation that’s evenly distributed more naturally around your ear.  These cast aluminum ear cups have a high quality feel, and are fashioned with a shaved silver trim that may scratch easily, which isn’t a deal breaker for us, but still worth mentioning.

The cups lay flat for storage inside an included soft clamshell case, and the hinges can fold the ear cups towards the headband for further portability. This especially helps for location audio work, where space is limited and mobility is key. The headband is adjustable at discreet steps, and even at full extension, there doesn’t seem to be any signs of stress when bending or tweaking the phones.

Another key feature on the Pro4S is its dual-entry detachable cord. The circuitry automatically routes a stereo signal to both drivers, regardless of which side you plug into. Plus, the remaining open end becomes a pass-through output, so you could daisy chain another Pro4S alongside it.

The included 4.5 ft. (1.4 m) cable is coiled in the middle, in between two long straight sections. This distributes the cable’s weight more evenly, and helps clear up obstructions when plugging into any source. This is also half the length and weight of Sony’s MDR-7506 coiled cable, which is almost 10 ft. long.

While a longer cable could be more accommodating, Koss hit the right mark in length versus obstructiveness, with the added convenience of simply unplugging oneself from the cord entirely. The only downside is if this cable is misplaced, users will have a hard time finding a replacement other than what’s provided by Koss, because of the recessed ports on the Pro4S.

Made with rugged materials, comfortable cushioning, and lined with a simple silver trim, the Koss Pro4S is dressed to impress and made with comfort in mind. Aesthetics and features are great, but does it have the sound signature to match?

The sound

Studio or reference headphones are usually advertised to have a flat frequency response, where, ideally, all signals are reproduced uniformly across all frequencies without bias (example above). The Pro4S is driven by Koss’ new SLX40 elements that are tuned for reference, delivering what they advertise as “incredibly accurate and unbiased sound”.

Its specs seem to be on-par with other studio models, with a few differences:

• Response: 10 Hz – 25 kHz
• Sensitivity: 99 dB SPL
• Impedance: 35 Ohms
• THD: <0.3% average (@400 Hz – 1 kHz, 95 dB SPL)
• Max Load: 500 mW

While response and sensitivity are where they need to be, its has a lower impedance and load rating than most models. This is probably to accommodate a wide range of home studio setups and listening, but may have less gain headroom for some professional board outputs.

We lent these stereophones to several engineers in the music and film audio worlds, and their feedback was consistent. The Pro4S, in general, has the soundscape of a studio headphone, but seems to have a character of its own, with additional warmth in the mid range, and clarity in higher registers. However, no frequency bands seem exaggerated, and it retrieves enough detail in all ranges to gauge how tracks sit in a mix.

There are moments when this perceived slight emphasis can sit on the harsh side, when it comes to certain instrumentation. One of the music engineers who tested our Pro4S had difficulty assessing if the twang of an overdriven Telecaster was distorting. Upon switching back to his usual pair, this wasn’t the case.

Despite its accented soundscape, the Pro4S at least provides listeners with a pleasurable experience. For what it’s worth, casually listening to finished music with this pair is actually not as thin or lacking as other studio models. It may not perform like a true “reference” model, but it can at least produce a more neutral sound to a variety of subjective preferences.

The industry

This isn’t to discount the clarity of the Pro4S, which is especially beneficial for tracking vocals. We tested out this pair at a Hollywood dubbing stage, and could properly judge tonal differences between the originally recorded dialogue and the replacement voice-overs. These sessions can last for many hours a day, but there were no complaints of discomfort from the recording team. They especially enjoyed the detachable cord, so they could quickly leave the board for a coffee, without having to take off the headphones entirely.

We also lent the Pro4S to a couple production sound mixers, who primarily record on-set dialogue. Even on an upcoming reality TV series, where there are many mic sources and inputs involved, and characters unpredictably speaking to one other, the Pro4S could retrieve enough detail from all sources to properly EQ and mix. While on location, these headphones are great for long listening sessions, but its materials may heat up considerably on a warm day outside.

Let’s take a moment to compare the Pro4S to two current favorites in the biz — Sony’s workhorse MDR-7506, considered an industry standard, and Sennheiser’s more compact HD25-1, another widely compatible reference pair. All three of these headphones are geared towards professional markets, and the Pro4S seems to be the middle ground that addresses issues with current models.

The 7506’s are considered the standard and used in a variety of applications. It’s also circumaural, with minimal pressure around the ear, and a neutral soundscape that is uniform from production to post. The earcups fold inward towards the headband, but because it has a much longer cable, the 7506 can easily become a tangled mess during storage.

The on-ear HD25’s are more compact and also great for many situations, especially while on location. They have great isolation, and seem to distribute pressure evenly across the adjustable headband. However, the on-ear style can become fatiguing during long sessions, especially if the listener is wearing glasses.

Take the isolation and compactness of the HD25’s, with the sound and comfort of the 7506, add a detachable cable, and the Pro4S is a nice marriage between the two.

The verdict

Not only is the Pro4S quite possibly the most comfortable pair of headphones of its class, it has class too. It may have a sound signature that slightly deviates from a promise of “incredibly accurate and unbiased sound”, but as always, Koss’ functional design and build quality places the listening experience as a whole first and foremost. At $149 USD, the Pro4S is worth experiencing, no matter where your studio happens to be.

The post Koss Headphones Pro4S: Monitoring With Class appeared first on VR World.

The Define Mini from Fractal Design is in some ways a fairly rare beast, bringing high-end styling, materials and design ethos to the often under-served micro ATX segment. The Define Mini puts the emphasis on offering simple but attractive styling in-line with other cases in the Define series including the Define Xl and R4 which basically bring an identical looking design serving three form factors; mATX, ATX and E-ATX. The end result is a stunning chassis that we would heartily recommend to anyone looking for a minimalistic, classy looking and silent mATX build.

Fractal Design- Define Mini: In focus

Before we go ahead and assess the Define Mini in detail lets define (excuse the pun) exactly what you are getting for your money. The Define Mini retails for something in the region of $120 which means that it sits at the upper branch of an mATX chassis scale where the lower reaches see plenty of options for around the 50 buck mark. The Define Mini sits above cheaper options to bring you a case that screams quality.

The first time you pick it up you will notice its more substantial weight of almost 10kg, a clue as to the quality of the steel used in its construction. Thicker steel is used in an effort to make your system as quiet as possible, a feature that is enhanced with plenty of insulation on the sides panels with a dense noise absorbing material used throughout.

The front panel has been designed with a modern system builder in mind with a clean front face that is actually a door behind which you can access two 5.25 disk drive bays. I haven’t installed a DVD ROM of any kind of system for some time now, so I really like the idea that these (empty) bays can be hidden from view. The door also has a very pro design with magnets that hold it in place and the totally clean front face is finished with brushed aluminum that reeks of class. No gaudy teenage transformer-inspired aesthetics… this is a case for the mature and discerning PC builder.

If silent operation is not your thing and your system is going to need optimal cooling, have no fear. The Define Mini uses Fractal’s ModuVent technology, a fairly fancy way to say that you can modify the case to make it optimized for cooling rather than silence. The insulation panels that cover the side and top cooling fan positions can be removed and replaced by your own choice of 120mm or 140mm cooling fans. This is nice touch from Fractal Design as most chassis that specialize in silent operation usually lack any recourse for enthusiast builds that need the additional air flow.

There is also a custom fan controller included in the package that is designed to be fitted on the rear at a perpendicular angle to the PCIe slots. It is easy to install and gives you more hands on control over your system fan speeds, allowing you to control up to three fans with a single dial. This is a handy way of adjusting fan speeds for sure, and I like that it is on the rear. On-the-fly fan speed adjustment is a great feature, but I don’t want to get involved with the look of the front face of the rig. Also interesting to note that the slot used for the fan controller can also be handy for installing non-input expansion cards.

In terms of USB connectivity however, the front panel is now showing the Define Mini’s age just a bit. The chassis has been on the market for a year or two and it would be great to have the full complement of USB 3.0 ports on the front. Instead you get two USB 2.0 ports and just a single USB 3.0 port. This is a tad disappointing as the connector provided is the standard external USB 3.0 connector supporting two USB 3.0 ports by default. If you can only find room for three slots (a bizarre outcome as there is ample space on the panel for four) let’s have dual USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0. A small gripe, but a gripe nonetheless.

The post Define Mini mATX Case From Fractal Design: The Review appeared first on VR World.

Known for its versatility, the Honda Jazz (Fit in some markets) has established itself as a class on its own. While essentially a subcompact hatchback given its body type, the Jazz is actually more of a small utility vehicle, because of the flexibility that it affords in terms of the seating and cargo configuration. Honda has proven the usability of its “Magic Seat” ULTR (utility, long and tall cargo and rest) modes in hauling different kinds of loads. Not that you’d want the Jazz to be your every day hauler for your construction business. But when the necessity arises, it’s sure good to have the added cargo capacity with the flick of a few levers.

The Honda Jazz retains the same utility configurations in the 2014 model,and this generation adds the R to ULT, which stands for “rest”. The third generation since the Jazz’s launch in 2001, this particular model is based on an all new platform shared with the new HR-V, and debuted in Japan in late 2013 and in the US mid-2014. The new Jazz uses a mix of monocoque and spaceframe construction, which helps in maximizing interior space and minimizing weight whilst retaining rigidity. This particular Jazz currently sells in the US as the 2015 Fit model.

VR World had the chance to take the 1.5 V CVT variant of the All New Jazz for a weekend spin around town, climbing mountain routes and cruising through highways. Plus, we were also able to put the car’s cargo utiltiy to the test with a chance trip to the hardware store.

Specifications

The All New Jazz has a slightly longer body and wheelbase, and having re-designed the rear suspension without an anti-sway bar, the ride characteristic should differ slightly from the second-generation Jazz, but this means added rear cargo width capacity. The new model comes in various engine and transmission configurations, including a 1.5 liter and 1.3 liter Earth Dreams i-DTEC engines for the North American and Japan markets. The Philippine market unit we reviewed came with a 1.5 liter i-VTEC, which comes standard across the entire new Jazz line. Some markets will also get a turbocharged 1.0 liter three-cylinder engine currently under development.

A few key specs:

• Engine: Chain Drive SOHC i-VTEC 16 valve
• Fuel supply system: Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI)
• Max power: 120 PS @ 6600 RPM
• Max torque: 14.8 kg-m @ 4800 RPM
• Transmission: CVT
• Fuel capacity: 40 liters
• Suspension: Independent MacPherson Strut with Stabilizer (front) / H-shaped torsion beam with Stabilizer (rear)
• Brakes: Ventilated disc (front) / Drum (rear)
• Turning radius: 5.1 m

The 2014 Jazz is actually shorter by about 7.6 mm, although wheelbase has been stretched by 30.5 mm, which means a marginally more comfortable ride, and some advantages in interior seating space.

Higher-spec units come with additional amenities and safety features, such as foglamps, side mirror-mounted turn signals, smart key, side curtain airbags, touch-screen stereo controls and rear-view camera. All models, except for the base MT come with a cargo tonneau cover, which is useful for keeping stored items from prying eyes and for added air conditioning efficiency.

Design, comfort and amenities

The Jazz retains the same basic design elements of the previous generations, including a cab-forward design with sloping hood, as well as small and sloped C-pillar windows. The general look echoes that of Honda’s other new launches, including the All New City, which VR World reviewed a few months ago. This includes the bold “H” grille design, and the character creases that extend from the front fender through the door handles, finally extending through the rear headlamps.

One big design discrepancy from previous Jazz models is in the headlamp. This generation eschews the bug-eyed triangular-shaped design of the old Jazz, with designers opting instead for a flatter and more wedged look that echoes the latest City and Civic models.

Being a subcompact hatch, the Jazz is designed more for utility and space rather than cruising comfort. Front and rear legroom is generous although not excessive. Compared with the outgoing Jazz, this generation increases rear legroom by about 12 cm.  Seats are quite firm, however, which can lead to driver and passenger fatigue in long drives. Our review model comes with one 12 volt power socket, a USB port and nine cupholders.

Notably absent in our review variant is a touch-screen interface, which Honda introduced in the new City. The integrated audio system does support USB MP3 playback, Bluetooth audio, as well as mobile phones. The two-line LCD screen is quite limited, however, and folks who are used to touchscreens in smartphones and tablets would be disappointed. The VX and VX+ models do come with touchscreen audio interface.

Compared with the City, however, utility is where the Jazz wins. Its 350 liters cargo capacity in normal seating mode is a 13 liter increase from the previous generation. And while the City does have a 510 liter trunk space (already class-leading for a subcompact), the Jazz’s rear seats can be folded down flat to increase cargo capacity to 906 liters. With front seats also folded flat, storage capacity goes up to 1,492 liters. The car also offers a “tall” mode, in which the rear bench can be folded up to haul taller items. The rear seat bench and backrest split is 60:40, which means the car can still accommodate passengers in various modes.

It helps that the Jazz’s fuel tank is located below the front seats. This means items can also be stowed under the rear bench, and this gives way to the “tall” mode, which enables cargo from floor to ceiling height. And one clear advantage over the competitors: the Jazz’s rear seats fold full flat, unlike other hatchbacks with seats that only fold forward with a big slope.

The post Honda Jazz is a Cute Ute That Can Fit Almost Any Lifestyle appeared first on VR World.

The field of gaming peripherals is an ever growing mass of hardware that has a large number of keyboards for gamers to choose from.  Gaming keyboards can range from just ten dollars to hundreds of dollars for customized mechanical keyboards.

The entry level is a place that many users start at and Tt eSports is hoping that its new Challenger Prime will sway many users to give it a try.  The Challenger Prime is the newest ikeyboard in Tt eSport’s Challenger lineup, and it also happens to be the lowest costing model as well.  The board which retails for only $29.99 doesn’t skimp on features though even at that low price point. The keyboard has an anti-spill design with drain holes in case something does ever spill on it. It aslo features backlit membrane keys, with dedicated media and macro keys.  With the stylish keyboard users can switch between blue, red, and purple for the backlight color to help it match the user’s color scheme.

Specifications

The post Tt eSports Challenger Prime Gaming Keyboard Reviewed appeared first on VR World.

Hiku scans, records, categorizes, locates, and marks your favorite items to make shopping a no-brainer. The handheld device scans bar codes on your favorite and incidental items. The item is then listed on a shopping list on your smartphone ready to take to the store.

You can assign an item to any number of user-named lists – Safeway, Petsmart, RiteAid, GNC, and so forth. Head for the store, display your shopping list on your phone and proceed down the aisles. In this review, I’ll show you with pictures how easy it was to install,  learn, and use. I’ll also tell you what I did and didn’t like about Hiku.

You’ll need either an iOS or Android smartphone to download the free Hiku app. I tested the Android version as soon as it was released. The beta packaging still only refers to the original iOS version though.

You can buy the related scanning device direct from Hiku. The same device works with both iOS 6.0+ and Android 4.0+ since it sends the scanned information to a neutral cloud. The device contains a 1D linear scanner, a microphone, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery.

Inside the box you’ll find the device, a micro USB cable for charging the battery, and a tiny three-fold 3”x3” Start Up Guide.

Hiku seems like an odd name for an application that creates a grocery list. When I questioned Matt Beebe, head of product and design, he explained: “The name Hiku comes from the Japanese short-form poetry, meant to be said in a single breath. When done well, a haiku communicates meaning in its simplest form, and is beautiful. That captures the ethos of our brand: to bring simplicity and beauty to people’s lives.”

The product’s instructions themselves are simplicity personified. They start by telling you to download the application from the Apple App Store < https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hiku-mobile/id721935991?ls=1&mt=8 > and follow the on-screen instructions to connect Hiku to your Wi-Fi. It needs to be a 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi network. Because I was beta testing the Android version, I went instead to Google Play  for a copy of the software. The product’s documentation obviously needs to be updated to include the new version. When you search for Hiku on either site be careful of what you choose.

A search for Hiku on iTunes and Google Play displays several misleading, but interesting, choices.

One choice might include the following Haiku poem by the 17^th century Japanese master Matsuo Basho: < http://poemhunter.com/matsuo-basho/ >

A field of cotton –
as if the moon
had flowered.

Take a moment to mentally contemplate the image … Now let’s continue with our study of a more mundane topic: grocery shopping.

INSTALLING HIKU

Installation of the Hiku app on an HTC was easy and automatic. You are asked for your Wi-Fi connection.

You are told when to sync your device to the application by placing the device on the phone’s display.

Make note of the warning that accompanies the placement. It is no B.S. The bright pulsating action that takes place during the synchronization is intense.

You’ll be rewarded with a message of success that displays on the phone below the device.

The process creates an icon on the phone’s home panel.

The Hiku icon appears here in the lower right corner of the phone’s display.

To sign onto Hiku, you’ll need yet another password to keep track of. They do have a way of assisting you if you forget it. After you have started a shopping list, you can share that list because it is stored in the cloud not on your phone. You could send your mate to the store and they could access the list by signing in to their own smartphone with the same email address and password you created during set up.

 USING HIKU

The device itself is made of a study, water resistant, shell designed to resist damage to both exterior and interior even when dropped. It is fitted with a magnet that attaches tightly to your refrigerator and is covered by a soft silicon rubber that keeps it from scratching the appliance. The activating button on the opposite side is of brushed aluminum. A recessed window protected with a rubber framing is what you point towards the bar code for scanning to take place. You also can set the device on this end on a flat surface.

Hiku adheres securely within easy reach on the refrigerator door.

The same device can be used with either an iOS or Android phone. The downloaded app on your phone talks to the cloud to retrieve your stored information. Hiku has an established and growing data base of 17 million bar codes that it draws upon.

The same device can be used with either an iOS or Android phone.

With the oval Hiku device in hand, I began scanning a variety of items and checking how they showed up on the phone.

Most familiar items were quickly categorized by the program.

When you select to display Details, you are able to edit the information. You can change the name in your list that was associated with the bar code, assign the item to another aisle, and enter the quantity you want to purchase. You can mark common items as “Regulars”.

I scanned a variety of shapes and conditions. Flat cardboard boxes of course do well. Yet, I had no problem with the bar codes being recognized on round cans, moist milk cartons, wrinkled labels, irregular tubes, or cellophane covered containers.

Hiku read bar codes of various and sundry shapes and conditions.

Hiku has three audible signals which translate into: It’s Added. Bar Code Not Recognized. Voice Not Recognized. One item Hiku didn’t recognize was a bottle of Port wine. I guess it doesn’t read Portuguese codes. However, referring to the paper Start Guide that came in the box, I found the solution.

Afer I scanned the bottle again, I immediately pushed the silver button, aimed the scanner at my mouth and said “Porto Morgado” using my best accent. Bingo. Hiku can even spell. There it was on the No Aisle category along with the Epson ink cartridge that the system didn’t know what to do with either. Hiku even spelled the brand name correctly from my verbal input.

I assigned my after dinner drink to the Beer/Wine/Liquor aisle.  Now that Hiku has my Port in its data base anyone can access the information immediately because I “taught” Hiku the bar code.

Porto Morgado has been added not only to my shopping list, but to Hiku’s data base for everyone’s benefit.

Alphabetical aisles come already defined, such as Baking/Spices, Dairy, Grains/Pasta, Meats, Produce. You can add a new aisle which I could have done for the ink, but I decided School/Office Supplies would suffice. I also could create a separate Shopping List for, say, Staples, and assign the Epson ink to that list instead to my general Grocery List.

PROS and CONS

To get started, you can name a list, go to that store, walk the aisles scanning bar codes from your common purchases to quickly set up a thorough list in the order in which you will find them in the store.

As you learn how to use Hiku, if you can’t figure something out, you can tap My Hiku and display links to the site’s FAQ’s or send an email to support@hiku.us. For example, although Hiku has an almost flat, easy learning curve, I didn’t intuit how to remove an item completely. I could “Cross It Off” by swiping it, but to get it off that list the FAQ that displayed on my phone told me I needed to hit the Clear button. I could not locate a Clear button, so I will contact Support for a more specific direction or graphic.

The My Hiku also has Tips, which are a reiteration of the compact Start Up Guide, so help is always a tap away on your phone. It is in place to allow language selection for voice recognition with three forms of English, two forms of Spanish, German, French, and Italian. The product currently supports English only. The other choices will be an enhancement.

Finally, the company responds to problems as evidenced by this notation on their website about their first version. “We’ve identified an issue in the hiku mobile app version 1.0 where new item refresh fails for AT&T customers under certain conditions. The issue is now fixed, available in the App Store as version 1.1. You can download it.”

CONCLUSION

This compact, patent pending, shopping assistant could be called a gadget according to Merriam Webster which says: “Gadget: an often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but often thought of as a novelty.”

Hiku is something that is new and unusual, as well as practical. Introduced at San Francisco’s Pepcom in November, Hiku saves the user time, provides organization to an often chaotic procedure, and is easy to use. Instead of scurrying from aisle to aisle, backtracking to the canned vegetable aisle because you forgot to get lima beans when there, you can methodically move up one aisle and down the next, checking items off your list.

I did not find a way, however, to mark that I had put the item in my shopping cart. So for now, you’ll need to remember what you selected and what you still need to pick off a shelf and place in your basket. It’s time to request an enhancement.

I was told that another enhancement I wanted had been requested by other users as well: printing. If your neighbor offers to pick up a few things for you when they go to the store, you’d probably prefer to give them a printed list instead of access to your Hiku account.

This scanner is also perfect for someone who has difficulty writing, perhaps due to severe arthritis. Scanning or speech can take the place of painful attempts at maneuvering a pencil.

Hiku is priced at $79, but I think $50 would be a better price if you weren’t sure you’d really use it once you had it. Also, if you were just counting dollars, a smaller price in today’s economy might be more enticing. However, it depends on how you value your time. This device is definitely a time saver, and “time is money”.

Founders Rob Katcher, CEO, and Rajan Bala, VP Engineering, urge you to “Get the App”.

This app is a must for the busy person who has a deadline and an empty refrigerator that needs filling. No fumbling for a list, no forgetting the one special thing you went to the store for. It’s a convenience for every single mom with limited time, any bachelor who hates to shop, and every person who has a large family and a long, varied shopping list.

Hiku is seeking retail partners 9bizdev@hiku.us) and developers (devrel@hiku.us) to pair their product with Hiku. You should contact them on their career page if you are an experienced mobile software engineer or a data scientist looking for a job.

The post Hiku: Add it to Your Shopping Cart appeared first on VR World.